Android the smartphone platform of choice

According to the latest (quarter three) statistics from independent smartphone industry tracker IDC Android software powers most smartphones worldwide.

The numbers show that Android software powered three out of four smartphones shipped worldwide in the quarter as the Google-backed mobile platform continued to dominate the market.

Android smartphones shipments surged to 136 million, topping those in Q3-2011 by just over than 90 percent, the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker reports. A total of 181.1 million smartphones were shipped in the third quarter.

The Android share of the market climbed to 75 percent from 57.5 percent in a year-over-year comparison.

“Android has been one of the primary growth engines of the smartphone market since it was launched in 2008,” said IDC mobile phones research manager Ramon Llamas. “In every year since then, Android has effectively outpaced the market and taken market share from the competition.”

Shipments of Apple’s iPhones rose nearly 14 percent to 26.9 million in the quarter, giving Apple a slightly improved 14.9 percent share in a  market that grew 46.4 percent.

Smartphones powered by Microsoft Windows software also gained ground in the quarter, with market share rising to 2 percent. Microsoft has just unveiled innovative new Windows Phone 8 handsets along with a growing library of applications, music and services.

Meanwhile, BlackBerry and Symbian smartphones market share declined.

“The share decline of smartphone operating systems not named iOS since Android’s introduction isn’t a coincidence,” said IDC senior research analyst Kevin Restivo.

“The smartphone operating system isn’t an isolated product, it’s a crucial part of a larger technology ecosystem,” he continued. “Google has a thriving, multi-faceted product portfolio.”

The availability of desirable apps and digital content such as music, films, and games is considered crucial to the success of smartphones.